Cabbing it to the stadium is day's first oops

  • Article by: MARK CRAIG , Star Tribune
  • Updated: November 25, 2012 - 10:34 PM

Adrian Peterson's tardiness didn't go unnoticed by his head coach. Nor did his 108 yards atone for two fumbles.

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Vikings running back Adrian Peterson, in what was a typical scene Sunday at Soldier Field, drew a four-deep crowd of Bears defenders as he prepared to cut to his right on a carry in the third quarter. Peterson caused a stir when he arrived late to the stadium but topped 100 yards rushing for the fifth consecutive game.

Photo: Jerry Holt, Star Tribune

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CHICAGO - Adrian Peterson missed the bus Sunday.

And we're not talking about opportunities or anything like that. We're talking about a literal bus. As in the one that was supposed to transport all 53 Vikings -- including the NFL's leading rusher -- from the JW Marriott to Soldier Field well before a noon kickoff.

"There's something Adrian and I have to talk about regarding getting to the stadium," said Vikings coach Leslie Frazier, who clearly was not amused.

Fortunately for Peterson, Chicago is the Land of 10,000 Taxicabs. Peterson was seen flagging one of them down at about 10 a.m. and arrived at Soldier Field at 10:30 a.m., according to the NFL Network.

Frazier said he never thought about sitting Peterson for the first play or first series, which is something the Vikings typically have done when a player is late.

Peterson declined to give specifics when asked about the situation after the Vikings' 28-10 loss.

"I'm really not going to discuss that," he said. "Me and Coach actually haven't had the opportunity to talk about it. It really wasn't a big deal. Came out and played. What's important is what can we do to come back and get back on track. That's going to be our main focus."

Peterson rushed for 108 yards on 18 carries. That's a 6.0-yard average, while surpassing 100 yards for a career-record fifth consecutive game.

But it was hardly a performance worthy of celebration. Peterson was credited with losing two fumbles, giving him three this season. He admittedly was careless with the ball on the first one, while the second one bounced off his chest in a poor handoff exchange with quarterback Christian Ponder.

The Bears turned the first fumble into a 34-yard touchdown drive and a 7-3 lead in the first quarter.

"I found myself cutting to the left and got loose with the ball," Peterson said. "I guess somebody [linebacker Nick Roach] came from behind and made a good play, knocked the ball out.

"The second one was more so on me. My original landmark got kind of crashed down, so I tried to shorten my steps and the quarterback was coming one direction towards me and I'm coming towards him. And the ball hit my chest and bounced off. So that's on me."

What wasn't on Peterson was not getting a carry inside the Bears 10-yard line early in the fourth quarter. Ponder threw incomplete to receivers on third-and-2 and fourth-and-2 from the Bears 8.

"I definitely want to get the ball," Peterson said. "But [offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave] did a great job on calling plays. You think back early on in the game and it was third-down-and-4, I want to say. Great play action, we completed the ball to Kyle [Rudolph]. Came back, same play and got the score. So you live with it."

What Frazier can't live with again is Peterson missing another bus.

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Date/Opponent Time W L Score
2012 preseason     
Aug 10 - at San Francisco 8:00 PMX17-6
Aug 17 - vs. Buffalo 7:00 PMX36-14
Aug 24 - vs. San Diego 7:00 PMX12-10
Aug 30 - at Houston 6:00 PMX28-24
2012 regular season     
Sep 9 - vs. Jacksonville 12:00 PMX26-23
Sep 16 - at Indianapolis 12:00 PMX23-20
Sep 23 - vs. San Francisco 12:00 PMX24-13
Sep 30 - at Detroit 12:00 PMX20-13
Oct 7 - vs. Tennessee 3:25 PMX30-7
Oct 14 - at. Washington 3:25 PMX38-26
Oct 21 - vs. Arizona 12:00 PMX21-14
Oct 25 - vs. Tampa Bay 7:20 PMX36-17
Nov. 4 - at Seattle 3:05 PMX30-20
Nov 11 - vs. Detroit 12:00 PMX34-24
Open     
Nov 25 - at Chicago 12:00 PMX28-10
Dec 2 - at Green Bay 12:00 PMX23-14
Dec 9 - vs. Chicago 12:00 PMX21-14
Dec 16 - at St. Louis 12:00 PMX36-22
Dec 23 - at Houston 12:00 PMX23-6
Dec 30 - vs. Green Bay 3:25 PMX37-34
2012-13 playoffs     
Jan. 5 - at Green Bay 7:00 PM

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